Wu Tang Clan, Dearling Physique, and more

Wu-Tang Clan

SUNDAY 1.9 at EPIC

Nothing can stop or contain the Wu-Tang Clan. Label bullshit, arrests, internecine squabbles—internal backbiting and grumbling in the wake of RZA's open-eared, prog 8 Diagrams productions—and the critical/commercial brick, Ghostface Killah's lamentable Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City? None of that can slow their forever-enterprising, garrulous gutter roll. In 2011 alone, Ghost has two solo discs and one collaboration album with Sheek Louch en route; Raekwon will issue Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang; GZA's sequel to Liquid Swords is due; U-God, Method Man, and Masta Killa are prepping additions to their respective canons; and svengali RZA leaks fresh-off-the-stove tracks like he's dying of cancer. This is to say nothing of the cavalcade of guest spots, one-off internet singles, and the mixtapes every one of these guys is constantly putting out there. Whether or not you're paying attention, the Wu march on, influencing pretty much every new rapper you idolize in myriad ways. Right now, though, they'd like you to pay to see them in the flesh. Which you totally should. With Coughee Brothaz North, Muja Messiah, Johnny P, J Star, Meta, and more. 18+. $30/$35 at the door. 8 p.m. 110 N. Fifth St., Minneapolis; 612.332.3742. —Ray Cummings

Dearling Physique (CD-release)

THURSDAY 1/6 at 7th ST. ENTRY

The brooding electro-pop of Dearling Physique has intoxicated local audiences for years. But now, after recently putting out two well-received EPs, they are about to make a defining musical statement with the release of their alluring new full-length record, Deadeye Dealer, which should firmly place them back on the music radar in a major way. Lead by Domino Davis, the enigmatic mastermind of the band, Dearling Physique have long sought to blend music, fashion, and art together in an inventive, original manner, and their album-release show at the Entry should prove to be quite a celebration of both music and style. 18+. $6. 8 p.m. 701 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis; 612.332.1775. —Erik Thompson

The Onion's 1,143rd Twin Cities Issue Celebratory Gathering

FRIDAY 1/7 at FIRST AVENUE

Throwing a party to celebrate the release of its 1,143rd issue is clearly The Onion's tongue-in-cheek idea of a joke. But the stellar lineup that's been assembled to perform at First Avenue's Mainroom is certainly nothing to laugh at, with a phenomenal all-local bill featuring the music of Dosh, Pink Mink, BNLX, Zebulon Pike, Fuck Knights, and Grant Cutler and the Gorgeous Lords, as well as DJ Jake Rudh providing the between-set beats, and karaoke by the Infernal Singalong Machine going on all evening in the Entry. And it wouldn't quite be an Onion party without some playful mockery of our music scene, so there is a planned Minnesota hipster scavenger hunt sponsored by MNArtists.org that will coincide with the festivities and surely prove to be quite comical. But the music is the obvious draw here, with a diverse selection of bands that truly represents a great cross-section of what makes the Twin Cites music scene so unique and impressive. Innovative sound-manipulator Dosh, fresh off a tour (and sold-out show at First Ave) with Andrew Bird, was a late but welcome addition to the bill, and should prove to be a worthy headliner on a night featuring a horde of inspired and original local bands. 18+. $8. 6:30 p.m. 701 First Ave. N., Minneapolis; 612.332.1775. —Erik Thompson

Rana Santacruz

FRIDAY 1/7 at CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER

Mexico City native Rana Santacruz led a rock band there until around 2000. Subsequently relocating to Brooklyn, he began absorbing and sorting influences from far-flung points of the musical spectrum, culminating in a charmingly expansive yet organic mash-up on his solo debut, Chicavasco. With instrumentation ranging from folkloric guitarrón to banjo, cello, electric guitar, accordion, and horns, Chicavasco (named for a town in the Mexican state of Hidalgo) traverses vivid, sometimes surreal musical terrain encompassing Mexican trad varieties, bluegrass, folk and rock elements from both sides of the Atlantic, classical, mariachi, and even Celtic punk reminiscent of the Pogues. Meanwhile, Santacruz's lyrics sometimes flirt with magic realism, and he sings them en español with a rich, soaring voice that sinks melodic hooks into folky melodrama, punky jaunts, and fado-like angst alike. All ages. $12/$15 at the door. 7 p.m. 416 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612.338.2674. —Rick Mason

501 Club Farewell Show with MC/VL

SATURDAY 1/8 at 501 CLUB

With news of the 501 Club's upcoming demise still setting in for local music fans, the club will close its doors after one final show, less than two years after opening in downtown Minneapolis. "It was really a case of not being able to make the model work downtown," co-owner Jarret Oulman told us last week, citing the rising costs of operating a business downtown and the recent damage to the Metrodome (and subsequent loss of business from Vikings fans) as reasons for closing up shop. The 501's farewell concert happened to coincide with the demise of hip-hop duo MC/VL, who moved their final show to the 501 after the Turf Club closed suddenly last week (the Turf, unlike the 501, is slated to re-open on January 11 with new management, but several shows got booted in the process). MC/VL will be joined by Pink Mink, Slapping Purses, Kitten Forever, and Curtiss A and the Jerks of Fate, who will be performing Elvis Presley songs in honor of the King's birthday. 21+. $7. 9:30 p.m. 501 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612.338.3848.8. —Andrea Swensson

Stanley Jordan

SUNDAY 1/9 at DAKOTA JAZZ CLUB

Guitarist Stanley Jordan burst onto the jazz scene with a flourish in the mid-1980s, sporting an innovative technique dubbed tapping, in which both hands negotiated the fretboard simultaneously. As much like piano playing as guitar playing, this practice enabled him to play multiple lines, leading to striking interpretations of jazz and pop standards running the gamut from Miles Davis to Jimi Hendrix. Not surprisingly, Jordan is also a pianist, and he sometimes plays guitar and piano simultaneously as well. His initial phenom status faded as he occasionally strayed into less compelling material, also taking time off to study music therapy. He's been back on track on his last few albums, and can still be riveting when focused. These solo performances may feature new material he's working up for an album due later in 2011. $25 at 7 p.m.; $20 at 9 p.m. 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis; 612.332.1010. —Rick Mason